Heart disease is the leading causes of death in the United States. However, the statistics for heart disease among Asian Americans are rarely known. This study aimed to assess heart disease risks among Asian residents in Southeastern Michigan. During two health promotion events held in 2004, a series of health screenings were conducted, including blood pressure, total blood cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol level. Event registration form asked about participants’ age, gender, and ethnicity, availability of health insurance, physically activity, and smoking history. Data analysis included 118 Asian residents (71 women and 47 men) aged 20 and older (mean age=56, S.D.=15). Eighty-one percent of them had no health insurance, 66% had pre-hypertension or hypertension, 44% had borderline or undesirable total cholesterol, 25% had undesirable HDL, 51% were not physically active, and 19% were smokers. Using information from the Framingham Heart Study, a risk assessment tool was used to estimate a person’s 10-year risk of having a heart attack (http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp, 2004). The results showed that the mean estimated risk level of having a heart attack in the next 10 years for the 118 Asian residents was 7.4% (S.D.=.07), and 30% of them had a risk level 10% or higher. Both genders had risks but the risk level is significantly higher among men (t=-7.6, significance=.000, 2-tailed). Multiple regression analysis indicated that age, gender, HDL, and availability of health insurance are significant predictors of people’s risks (adjusted R square=.82). To improve access to health care and provide culturally competent health promotion are urgent strategies needed to reduce risk factors of heart disease and prevent heart attacks among Asian Americans.
Acknowledgements: Thanks for the support of the University of Michigan Health System, contributions by Jun Hoe Kim and other volunteers, and editorial suggestions by Linh Song.
Session #1188 - Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)